Behavioral Health Program for Short-Stay Nursing Facility Residents & Care Partners (BRISK)

Mass General Brigham

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Depression; Caregiver; Feasibility Studies; Skilled Nursing Facility; Nursing Home Resident

Treatments: Behavioral: Interventions for Stressful Transitions in Later Life

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT07220486

2025P0001624

K23AG078410 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this clinical trial is to test a behavioral health program (Interventions for Stressful Transitions in Later Life, InSTILL) for skilled nursing facility residents and their primary support person. The main questions it aims to answer is whether the program is program is feasible, satisfactory, and helpful. The researchers will compare the InSTILL program to minimally enhanced usual care. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the InSTILL program or minimally enhanced usual care. Participants will complete assessments at three timepoints (all) and a brief-exit interview.

Enrollment: 100 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patient and care partner both aged ≥ 18 years
• Patient with care partner (known person providing regular health-related, socioemotional, or practical support) willing to participate
• Patient reporting depression symptoms on a screening tool (Patient Health Questionnaire)

Exclusion criteria

• Patient intended length of nursing facility stay < 7 days
• Patient evidencing more than mild impairment on a cognitive screen (Brief Interview for Mental Status)
• Patient's roommate in skilled nursing facility already enrolled in study/intervention
• Either patient or care partner reporting high risk of suicidality, based on a standardized safety assessment tool
• Either patient or care partner participating in newly initiated psychotherapy

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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100 participants in 2 patient groups

InSTILL

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in this arm will participate in the Interventions for Stressful Transitions in Later Life (InSTILL), a behavioral health intervention tailored to the needs of short stay nursing facility residents and their primary care partner. InSTILL includes 8 sessions (2x per week for about 4 weeks) delivered in person or remotely. Both participants (e.g., resident and care partner) attend all sessions together, facilitated by a trained clinician.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Interventions for Stressful Transitions in Later Life

Minimally Enhanced Usual Care

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants in this group will receive a psychoeducational pamphlet with enhanced referrals for community support resources.